Routing device with stationary routing tool

ABSTRACT

Routing devices that can conveniently and quickly cause door panels, or the like, to be slotted on a mass production basis for purposes of associating hinges therewith that require slots formed in the panels. The routing tools thereof are held stationary and the panels are fed toward the routing tools.

United States Patent 72] inventor Kenneth N. Whlte Orland Park, Ill. [21 Appl. No. 889,631 [22] Filed Dec. 31, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 14, 1971 [73] Assignee Harold E. Meyer c/o White-Meyer Wood Products, Inc., Orland Park, III. a part interest [54] ROUTING DEVICE WITH STATIONARY ROUTING TOOL 5 Claims, 3 Drawlng Figs.

[52] US. Cl 144/27, 144/133, 144/136, 144/87, 144/69 [51] Int. Cl B27! 5/02 [50] Field of Search 144/136, 133, 134, 69, 27, 87, 82 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 41,992 3/1822 Hartwell 144/87 1,183,566 5/1916 Jessrang 144/251 A Primary Examiner- Donald R. Schran Attorney-Alter, Weiss & Whitesel ABSTRACT: Routing devices that can conveniently and quickly cause door panels, or the like, to be slotted on a mass production basis for purposes of associating hinges therewith that require slots formed in the panels. The routing tools thereof are held stationary and the panels are fed toward the v routing tools.

Patented Dec. 14, 1971 KENNETH N. WHITE BY 42m, Mam

ATTOF? NEYS ROUTING DEVICE WITH STATIONARY ROUTING TOOL This invention relates to routing devices and more particularly, to routing devices that are suitable for routing a T-slot or the like in a panel which is to be associated with hinges that require certain types of slots in them.

The routing devices provided herein are unique from the standpoint that wood panels, or the like, can be speedily and efficiently routed by feeding the panels into contact with the routing tools while the routing tools remain stationary.

The routing devices described herein include more thanone routing tool and have means for selectively adjusting the routing tool so that upon feeding the panels to the workpiece more than one slot therein can be formed per operation. Also, the routing tools can be moved out of the way when it is desired to use one routing tool or the other.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide new and improved routing devices which enable the mass production panels that are especially suited for having hinges associated therewith, with a minimum of fasteners.

It is still further an object of this invention to provide a new and improved routing device that can be utilized to form or route more than one slot therein per operation. Other and further objects of this invention will become readily apparent from reading the specification and claims in connection with the drawing, wherein:

FIG. I is a top view ofa routing device with the invention incorporated therein;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along a plane passing through the lines 22 and looking in the direction of the arrows of FIG. I; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along a plane passing trough the lines 3-3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing wherein like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout, the new and improved routing device 10, as illustrated in FIG. 1, includes a table having an open top that is defined by the sides l2, l3, l4 and which are supported by legs (not shown). A rod 17 extends transversely across the top of the device between the sides 13 and I5 and has a pair of platforms 20, 21 which are rotatably associated therewith by means of the rings 24. The platforms each include a routing unit 26 which has its motor housing 28 depending therefrom with the routing tool 30 protruding upward through the platform by means of the aperture 32.

An enclosure 34 extends upward from the platform and slidably receives a guarding device 36 which has a characterized slot formed therein. Thus when the guarding device is pressed by a workpiece such as the panel 38 shown in phantom it can slide to a position where it no longer covers the routing tool 30. It will be noted that the guarding device 36 is spring biased by the spring 36a to a position where it is covering the routing tool 30.

While the number of platforms 20, 21 illustrated herein are merely two and can be set for variously spaced slot formations it can be realized that any number of platforms can be employed within the scope of this invention The platforms 20, 21 are illustrated as also having a guide means 40 as well as inclinations 42 for purposes of enabling the feeding of the panels into contact with the routing tool on a inclination to thereby form inclined slots in the panel 38.

Thus it will be seen from a reading of this description along with the accompanying drawing, that the objectives of this invention have been fulfilled in a remarkably unexpected fashion. The panels or other types of workpieces can be slotted in a variety of places and in a variety of depths. Once the routing tools 30 is set at a certain distance, with respect to each other, the workpieces or panels to be slotted are pushed into contact with the guarding devices 36 which in turn slide and yield access to the routing tools 30. As the workpieces are fed into the routing device 10 a slot is thereby formed. It is in accordance with a desired depth which is determined by the distance that the slotting guard is caused to slide in response to pressing of the panel there against. With such a device as illustrated, a number of panels can be slotted quickly, safely and efficiently.

Although I have shown a specific construction and arrangement of the parts, I am fully cognizant of the fact that many changes may be made without efiecting the operativeness of the device, and I reserve the rights to make such changes as I may deem necessary without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

l. A routing device that is suitable for slotting panels or other workpieces so they can have hinges associated therewith, comprising:

a routing tool that is power driven,

means for supporting and receiving a panel in order that the panel can be actuated into said routing tool for purposes of having a slot routed therein at a selectable location, and

guard means extending over said routing tool and being slidably mounted with respect thereto,

said guard means being slidable in response to the force of a panel there against to uncover said routing tool for purposes of cutting,

said guard means being biased to slidably return to a position covering said routing device upon completion of the routing of said panel.

2. A routing device, as defined in claim 1, wherein a plurality of routing tools are mounted on a plurality of rotatable platforms,

said platforms and routing tools being positioned to simultaneously slot said panels,

said platforms being rotatable to a position where said routing tools do not contact said panels.

3. A routing device, as defined in claim 2, wherein at least one of said platforms has a guiding means as well as an angular means for guiding said panel into said routing tool at an angle,

whereby said panel can be selectively fed into said routing device at an angle.

4. A routing device, as defined in claim 3.

wherein a table having an opening at the top thereof has said platforms mounted thereon,

said table having a rod extending transversely therefrom for pivotally mounting said platforms.

5. A routing device, as defined in claim 4, wherein said platform has said guard slidably mounted thereon,

said platform having an enclosure for slidably receiving said guard therein,

said guard having a characterized aperture which is shaped in conformity with the routing tool,

whereby said guard is caused to slide without obstruction from said routing tool within said enclosure to uncover said routing tool for causing the panels to be slotted.

t t II 

1. A routing device that is suitable for slotting panels or other workpieces so they can have hinges associated therewith, comprising: a routing tool that is power driven, means for supporting and receiving a panel in order that the panel can be actuated into said routing tool for purposes of having a slot routed therein at a selectable location, and guard means extending over said routing tool and being slidably mounted with respect thereto, said guard means being slidable in response to the force of a panel there against to uncover said routing tool for purposes of cutting, said guard means being biased to slidably return to a position covering said routing device upon completion of the routing of said panel.
 2. A routing device, as defined in claim 1, wherein a plurality of routing tools are mounted on a plurality of rotatable platforms, said platforms and routing tools being positioned to simultaneously slot said panels, said platforms being rotatable to a position where said routing tools do not contact said panels.
 3. A routing device, as defined in claim 2, wherein at least one of said platforms has a guiding means as well as an angular means for guiding said panel into said routing tool at an angle, whereby said panel can be selectively fed into said routing device at an angle.
 4. A routing device, as defined in claim 3, wherein a table having an opening at the top thereof has said platforms mounted thereon, said table having a rod extending transversely therefrom for pivotally mounting said platforms.
 5. A routing device, as defined in claim 4, wherein said platform has said guard slidably mounted thereon, said platform having an enclosure for slidably receiving said guard therein, said guard having a characterized aperture which is shaped in conformity with the routing tool, whereby said guard is caused to slide without obstruction from said routing tool within said enclosure to uncover said routing tool for causing the panels to be slotted. 